Exeter born actor Bradley James has become a new contender to become the next 007 after Daniel Craig's stint as James Bond came to a tragic end. The Merlin and The Liberator star, who moved to Florida when he was nine, was first linked with the role in chat forums back in 2020.
However, he hasn’t been a key contender in the next James Bond market until late last week. He has been added by bookmaker William Hill and is priced at a high-placing 25-1.
He sits alongside previous favourites T’Nia Miller, Dwayne Johnson and Henry Golding in the odds. The current frontrunner in the market is Bridgerton heartthrob Rege-Jean Page, who sits at 9-4, followed by Idris Elba (9-2) and long-time favourite Man of Steel, Henry Cavill (5-1).
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With Bond producers claiming that they’re looking for ‘something different’ for the next superspy actor, Bradley could be an interesting pick. Bradley rose to fame as Arthur Pendragon in BBC’s fantasy series Merlin, which also proved successful in the US before ending a five-year run in 2012.
Other lead roles include Damien Thorn in an Omen-sequel series, and Giuliano de’ Medici in historical drama Medici: The Magnificent - which also starred current Bond contender Richard Madden, who’s priced in the market at 8-1.
But it’s James’ most recent role as Felix Sparks in The Liberator that really made him a potential 007 contender, as the war drama miniseries sees Bradley play a US government official and army officer - with military and political undertones similar to an MI6 agent.
Speaking on the odds, a William Hill spokesperson said: “Although he may be lesser-known than some of the other names in the market, Bradley James is a solid fit for 007 as he has a diverse CV and is popular in the US market, where the Bond franchise also thrives.
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“And with producers confirming that they’re heading in a slightly different direction for the next casting, late additions like Bradley could well be a sign of where things are heading.”
Bradley was born at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. He is also a keen sportsman who could have been a professional football player had he not chosen a career in acting but still regularly participates in charity football matches.
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